The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

and that stationed between the two hosts, he latter
was scorching everything like the Sun himself, smiting
down the foremost of Yudhishthira’s combatants,
and, in fact, achieving feat on Yudhishthira’s
army like unto what happeneth at the end of the Yuga,
could not any longer bear it. Abandoning then,
O sire, Partha’s steeds that looked like silver,
and filled with wrath, that great lord of Yoga powers
jumped down from that great car. Repeatedly roaring
like a lion, the mighty Krishna of great energy and
immeasurable splendour, the Lord of Universe, with
eyes red as copper from rage, and having his bare arms
alone for his weapons, rushed towards Bhishma, whip
in hand, desirous of slaying him and seeming to split
the universe itself with his tread. Beholding
Madhava in the vicinity of Bhishma and about to fall
upon him in that furious battle, the hearts of all
the combatants seemed to be in a stupor. ’Bhishma
is slain, Bhishma is slain.’—­These
loud exclamations were heard there, O king, caused
by the fear inspired by Vasudeva. Robed in yellow
silk, and himself dark as the lapis lazuli, Janarddana,
when he pursued Bhishma, looked beautiful as a mass
of clouds charged with lightning. Like a lion
towards an elephant, or the leader of a bovine herd
upon another of his species, that bull of Madhu’s
race, with a loud roar, impetuously rushed towards
Bhishma. Beholding him of eyes like lotus petals
(thus) rushing towards him in that battle, Bhishma
began to fearlessly draw his large bow. And with
a fearless heart he addressed Govinda, saying, ’Come,
come, O thou of eyes like lotus petals. O God
of the gods, I bow to thee. O best of the Satwatas,
throw me down today in this great battle. O god,
slain by thee in battle, O sinless one, great will
be the good done to me, O Krishna, in every respect
in the world. Amongst all, in the three worlds,
great is the honour done to me today in battle, O
Govinda. Strike me as thou pleasest, for I am
thy slave, O sinless one.’ Meanwhile, the
mighty-armed Partha. quickly following Kesava behind,
seized him by encircling him with his two arms.
That best of male beings, viz., Krishna, of eyes
like lotus petals, seized by Partha, still proceeded
with great speed, bearing the latter away with him.
The mighty Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, however,
forcibly catching hold of his legs, stopped Hrishikesa
with great difficulty at the tenth step. Then
Arjuna his dear friend, filled with sorrow, affectionately
addressed Kesava, who was then sighing like a snake
and whose eyes were troubled in wrath, saying, ’O
thou of mighty arms, stop, O Kesava, it behoveth thee
not to make those words false which thou hadst spoken
before, viz., I will not fight. O Madhava,
people will say that thou art a liar. All this
burden resteth upon me. I will slay the grandsire.
I swear, O Kesava, by my weapons, by truth, and my
good deeds, that, O slayer of foes, I will do all
by which the destruction of my foes may be achieved.